Duty weapon comes home.

[Trey Veston]

Today was my stepdad's 70th birthday. My girlfriend and I flew down to Yuma Arizona to celebrate with him.

He began a 40+ year career in law enforcement in the 70's as a town Marshal in Idaho carrying a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Magnum.

A couple of years later, he got a job as a police officer in a nearby larger town.

His duty weapon for that job was a S&W Model 19-2 w/ a 4" barrel. He stayed with that department for 42 years and was the Chief of Police for 22 years.

In the 80's, he had four kids, including my handicapped brother, and was strapped for cash. He was forced to sell his beloved S&W to my uncle.

Tonight, my uncle gave it back to him for his birthday.

Dad was really touched...

 

[Aim1]

Wow. That's awesome. 42 years in law enforcement.

 

[ontarget]

Isn't it great to have family like that? That was very thoughtful of your uncle.

 

[Pat Riot]

That is very cool, Trey.

 

[<*(((><]

That’s a great ending for that S&W!

 

[bannockburn]

Trey Veston

Great story, great family! And a Happy Birthday to your Step-Dad!

 

[Milt1]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Speedo66]

Wow. That's awesome. 42 years in law enforcement.

More! OP mentions first a couple of years with a small town as marshal, followed by 42 years with a larger town. Fantastic!

I feel like a piker, I only did 40. lol

Cool he got his duty gun back, and a nice one it is!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The holster wear is well earned, Id leave it just like that.

I dont suppose the Blackhawk is still around?

 

[bikerdoc]

Nice story, God bless uncle and I wish dad many more years of shooting that weapon!

 

[Trey Veston]

The holster wear is well earned, Id leave it just like that.

I dont suppose the Blackhawk is still around?

Sure is, along with an engraved Beretta 92 the FBI gave him.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have a very close friend who could relate.

34 years, Phoenix PD and to this day, sincerely regrets not buying his Smith when they went to Glocks. They were allowed to buy their personal department weapons for a STUPIDLY low price and he saw no point.

Now, he do!

Todd.

 

[Riomouse911]

COP for 22 years? Man, that's about five Chief lifetimes now! Most that I know do 3-4 and are ready to run to the hills. (I'm in my 29th year and have worked for 11 Chiefs / Interim Chiefs...and one of those bosses was for 12 of those years!)

Congrats to your Uncle for having a ton of class taking good care of and returning the firearm to your father after all those years, and to your father for a long career of public service . My hat is off to both of them .

Stay safe.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have a very close friend who could relate.

34 years, Phoenix PD and to this day, sincerely regrets not buying his Smith when they went to Glocks. They were allowed to buy their personal department weapons for a STUPIDLY low price and he saw no point.

Now, he do!

Todd.

Indeed! I bought my G19 G-3 for the trade-in value ($250 bucks OTD) when we went to G-4 . I should have bought three, many were almost new.

My former department was threatening to sell their stock of 4" S&W Model 66's, but that never happened.

Stay safe.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Indeed! I bought my G19 G-3 for the trade-in value ($250 bucks OTD) when we went to G-4 . I should have bought three, many were almost new.

My former department was threatening to sell their stock of 4" S&W Model 66's, but that never happened.

Stay safe.

True, My pal John really wished he had his old gun for a shadow-box now.... Now that nostalgia has kicked in.
Cheers to Trey's dad for the opportunity.... MORE so to Trey's uncle for making it happen!

Todd.

 

[Speedo66]

We bought our weapons and all other equipment and uniforms from our yearly equipment allowance, so we owned our weapons.

But, and a big but, our state agency operating in NYC would not give us a "good guy" letter saying we had retired on good terms with no problems during our service, required by NYC to obtain a carry permit in NYC, unless we retired with no handguns other than our last service gun.

So, no prior service guns, no personal guns, target pistols, etc.

Everything I'd collected over 40 years had to be sold. They also refused to offer HR218 qualification to retired members, as did the NYPD. Fortunately, a sheriffs dept. across the Hudson did offer that service.

 

[Riomouse911]

We bought our weapons and all other equipment and uniforms from our yearly equipment allowance, so we owned our weapons.

But, and a big but, our state agency operating in NYC would not give us a "good guy" letter saying we had retired on good terms with no problems during our service, required by NYC to obtain a carry permit in NYC, unless we retired with no handguns other than our last service gun.

So, no prior service guns, no personal guns, target pistols, etc.

Everything I'd collected over 40 years had to be sold. They also refused to offer HR218 qualification to retired members, as did the NYPD. Fortunately, a sheriffs dept. across the Hudson did offer that service.

I’m sorry to hear that! NY sucks 10x more than Ca when it comes to firearms. Yet another great sportsman’s State ruined by big metro area liberals calling all the shots.

In Ca it’s codified that if you retire from your agency in good standing (Timed out or by injury) you shall be issued a ccw. You also have due process rights allowing you to fight a revocation of the ccw if you are accused of something that jeopardizes it after retirement. (Of course a felony or a Domestic Violence conviction and it’s an automatic bye-bye.)

Now if it’s a psyche or stress retirement, you don’t get a ccw.

Stay safe.